New Regulations on Food Additives: Key Updates and Impacts

China has recently updated its food additive regulations to enhance food safety, improve labeling transparency, and align with international standards. This article summarizes the key changes, permitted additives, and compliance requirements, supported by comparative tables.

1. Overview of the Revised Food Additive Standards

The new regulations, effective from 2023. introduce stricter controls on additive usage, emphasizing safety assessments and consumer protection. Key updates include:

Table 1: Major Changes in Food Additive Regulations

2. Revised List of Permitted Food Additives

The updated "National Food Safety Standard for Food Additives" (GB 2760-2023) classifies additives into three categories:

Table 2: Categories of Permitted Additives

Note: 26 additives were removed due to safety concerns, including certain synthetic dyes.

3. Compliance Timelines and Penalties

Businesses must adapt to the new rules by June 2024. Non-compliance may result in fines or product recalls:

Table 3: Implementation Deadlines and Penalties

4. Key Impacts on Industry and Consumers

Manufacturers: Must reformulate products and invest in safety testing.

Retailers: Need to verify supplier compliance.

Consumers: Clearer labels enable informed choices; reduced exposure to risky additives.

The reforms aim to balance innovation in food processing with public health priorities, positioning China’s standards closer to the EU and USDA benchmarks.